​While the primary focus of this summer window naturally centers on the changes in Real Madrid’s first team, the club are also actively addressing the needs of their reserve squad. In this context, the Merengues have chosen to re-sign a former academy product, with MARCA reporting that Real Madrid have informed Real Valladolid of their intention to exercise the buyback clause in the contract of Angel Carvajal.
Real Madrid typically retain such rights for academy-trained players who depart for other clubs, and this decision would see the 22-year-old forward return to the white club, even though he remains under contract with Valladolid until 2028. Carvajal’s spell with the Blanquivioletas has been instrumental for his development. Competing in the second division last season, he netted 20 goals, with two notable hat-tricks coming against Lealtad and Langreo. His performances earned him a call-up to Valladolid’s first team at the season’s end.
Meanwhile, there is expected to be another movement involving both clubs, albeit in the opposite direction. Last winter, Real Madrid signed Valladolid forward Adrian Arnuncio on loan for Castilla with a purchase option set at €1 million. The Madrid club has chosen not to exercise this option, and Arnuncio will return to Valladolid, effectively moving the other way of Carvajal’s proposed move.
Prior to his loan to Valladolid, Angel Carvajal had not been able to establish himself as a key player for Real Madrid’s reserve side, despite showing quality in various lower-tier competitions. This loan spell away from the club, however, could prove transformative, helping him mature as a player and decide his future path—whether to stay with Real Madrid or seek opportunities elsewhere.
If the buyback proceeds as reported, Carvajal’s return would further reinforce Madrid’s strategy of leveraging the talent developed within their academy to strengthen the broader squad, including the reserve team. For Valladolid, the reverse transfer of Arnuncio and Carvajal’s potential re-signing by Real Madrid outlines a subtle but meaningful reshuffling of resources between the two clubs, with each maneuver designed to optimize development and competitive balance across their ranks.
In the broader context of Real Madrid’s summer activity, the club are balancing immediate first-team ambitions with a long-term view of cultivating homegrown talent. Reclaiming Carvajal could provide additional depth and potential for growth within Castilla and potentially feed into the first team in the future, should his development align with the club’s evolving plans. The coming weeks are likely to reveal how these negotiations crystallize, and whether the proposed buyback will translate into a tangible boost for Madrid’s reserve squad and their broader player development pipeline.